Display Of Selfishness

May 24, 1985

I AM DISAPPOINTED in the attitude of what appears to be a majority of my fellow senior citizens. Their mewling over cancellation of the cost-of-living allowance for one year in the Social Security program is nothing short of disgusting.

We, who are the benefactors of the largesse of Uncle Sam, owe our children and grandchildren more than this display of selfishness. Let us not forget that the original concept of Social Security was that it was intended to supplement retirement income, not be its sole source.

What ever happened to the old- fashioned idea of helping neighbor? By following this precept the Mormons, for instance, never have allowed their brothers and sisters to go unfed and unhoused. I am not a Mormon but I greatly admire their fierce spirit of independence and mutual help.

I always have felt we senior citizens were perhaps a bit more interested in the welfare of our country than those in other age groups. The elderly's apostle, U.S. Rep. Claude Pepper, gives a lie to this belief. His blatant appeal to the element of greed inherent in all of us is in the worst tradition common to most of our elected solons. May the yuppies rise in wrath and throw him out.